Star Wars Rebels

Released as part of Star Wars Celebration, here’s the first look at the upcoming season of Star Wars Rebels featuring some ominous narration from Hera (Vanessa Marshall). Is this the year the Empire finally catches up to our heroes?

The long-teased showdown between Maul (Sam Witwer) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Stephen Stanton) finally arrives. Alerted to Maul’s plan by the Holocrons, Ezra (Taylor Gray) ignores orders to stay and help the Rebellion ready themselves for the fight to retake Lothal. Instead, Ezra and Chopper head to Tatooine in search of Maul, not realizing that the former Sith Lord is using Ezra to lead him to the Jedi Mater in exile. By the end of the episode Ezra will learn a valuable lesson about understanding and trusting his place in events, and Kenobi and Maul will square off for the last time.

Star Wars Rebels has given us plenty battles between the Rebellion and the Empire. Predominantly focusing on a single cell operating out of Lothal, the show began to shift it’s focus in Season Two with the introduction of other Rebels and adventures away from Ezra‘s (Taylor Gray) homeworld. This thread bears fruit as the Ghost transports Senator Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly, the actress who also played the role in Rogue One) to a secret rendezvous in order to bring the Rebels together and, for the first time, see the beginnings of a larger Rebel Alliance take shape.

Believing Fulcrum’s identity might have been discovered, Ezra (Taylor Gray) is sent in to extract Agent Kallus (David Oyelowo). Things get a little complicated, however, by the sudden arrival of Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen). Focusing primarily on Kallus, the episode showcases the man’s skill as a spy and Rebel saboteur as he deftly manipulates events to frame another Imperial officer for his crimes. However, there’s nothing Kallus can do to prevent Thrawn from surmising Ezra’s identity which leads to Kallus’ ruse falling apart and the true traitor standing exposed. Never one to relinquish the upper-hand, Thrawn chooses not to expose Kallus and instead allow Fulcrum to continue to serve the Rebellion (not realizing from this point on he’s actually serving the interests of the Empire).